France and Germany have agreed to strengthen their deterrence cooperation. To that end the two countries will establish a high‑level nuclear‑control group that will act as a bilateral framework for defence policy exchange and the coordination of strategic measures, according to a joint statement issued on Monday by President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU).
The partnership will involve consultations on the optimal mix of conventional forces, missile defence and French nuclear capabilities. Both governments plan to take concrete first steps this year, such as Germany’s conventional participation in French nuclear exercises and joint visits to strategic facilities. They also aim to improve their “escalation‑management capability below the nuclear threshold” the statement added.
The Franco‑German collaboration is grounded in the understanding that the nuclear dimension of deterrence remains a cornerstone of European security. It will complement NATO’s nuclear deterrence and the nuclear‑sharing arrangement to which Germany continues to contribute. In addition, France and Germany reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.